Bed elevator



F. G. LANG BED ELEVATOR March 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DeC. 13, 1948 Y Irv 9 M me M WM A m 1 \.h 9 G 3 a K Unhmw M U R YA F V. d. B 2 w Y w F. G. LANG BED ELEVATOR March 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Dec. 15, 1948 lNViENTR. FRANK GLANG, BY

A-rroR/vEY .Patented Mar. 13, 1951 Frank G. Laing, Miami, Fla. Application December 13, 1948, Serial No. 65,049

This invention relates to improvements in bed elevators and has particular reference to elevators for increasing the height or angularity of conventional beds.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an elevator for detachable connection to the legs of beds and having means for adjusting and -holding the device and its attached bed post in various degrees of elevation for converting the conventional home bed into a hospital' bed.

A further object vof the invention :contemplates a bed elevator that is detachably clamped to the four legs of a bed, either round orA square,` with adjustable means in the elevator whereby the bed may be elevated to a desired height or inclined from either end -as may be desirable.

Another object of the invention resides in the Vparticular features of novelty and simplicity that permit quick and easy attachment to the posts or legs of a bed without the use of tools or other implements, is easily adjustable within a wide range, will securely hold the bedvagainst accidental dropping, is designed for both the right and left side of the bed, isstrong, durable, light in weight, cheap Yto manufacture, is ornamental in appearance and highlyrconvenient in use.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will readily present themselves'during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

, In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a thevnvention in use,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the elevator in elevation,

Figure 3 is a horizontalsection taken online 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device, taken at a right angle'to the illustration of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3, and

, Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5,. Y

Like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring specically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the invention as a whole and, as shown in Figure l is attached to the legs 6, of a bed, generally indicated at l. The legs 6 may either be round or square, since the invention readily adapts itself to either form. It is contemplated that an elevator be attached to all. four bed illustrating legs of the'bed, although elevators may be attached to either the front or back legs whenever it is desired to merely adjust the bed to an incline. The elevators are adapted to be formed in rights and lefts.

' Each elevator comprises a supporting standard 8, preferably square in cross-section and of a desirable height to permit elevation of the bed within recognized limits for convenient manipulation of apatient in the bed. The standard 8 is preferably provided with a caster 9 at its lower end for convenience in shifting the bed -around after elevation. One vertical face of the standard 8 is vprovided with ratchet teeth I0 extending entirelyv thereacross, for a purpose to be described. A stop lug II is fixed to the standard adjacent its upper end for limiting the upper movement of a carriage, to be described.

A carriage I2 is 4adapted to traverse the standard, carrying with it, the vlegs 6 of the bed. Each carriage I2 comprises arigid frame, embodying vertically arranged walls I3 and I4, integral and positioned at Ia right angle with respect to each Aother for forming a vertically' arranged L-shaped socket for engaging over the leg ofthe bed. The walls I3 and I4 are reinforced at top andbottom by flanges I5 and I6. lThe upper and lowerflanges I5 and I6 jointly `are extended outwardly and provided with' aligned square openings Il for the slidable reception of the standard 8. The lower flanges I 5 and I6 are extended inwardly to jointly form a. supporting rest I 8 for the terminal end of the' bed leg. Since the conventional bed leg is provided with a bead or other enlargement at its lower endv for ornamental purposes, it follows, that means must be provided to maintain the leg 6 in perfect alignment with the carriage.v To provide for this contingency, the upper flanges I5 and I6 are extended slightly inwardly, as indicated at I9 for aligning abutment with the side of the bed leg. Additional aligning means, in the form of ribs 20 and 2l may likewise 4be cast integral with the carriage frame I2 to insure greater rigidity of the leg Ii, when in clamped position. 'Ihe rest I8 is preferably cut away, at 22 for accommodation and clearance'of such casters as may be carried by the leg 5. It will thusbe seen, that the carriage I2 will partially embrace the leg V6 in perfect lvertical alignment with the weight of the bed supported on the rest I8.

Means are provided to securely clamp the car- Y riage in position upon the leg 6 and this means comprises an integral horizontal and lateral extension 22f'of the carriage I2, having'an inwardly turned hooked and bifurcated end v23. Pivotally supported at 24 in the bifurcated end 23, is a latch member 25, having a hooked latch end 25 `and a nger engaging end 21. A compression spring 28 bears between the inner end of the bifurcation and the end 21 for normally retaining the latch in operative position. The extension 22 is positioned substantially intermediate the ends of the carriage. An -arcuate clamp 29 is pivotally supported for horizontal swinging movement in a pair of spaced ears 301, .extending from and integral with the side wall i4 of the frame, by a pivot pin 3 I. The clamp 29 is arranged in horizontal alignment with the latch 25 and the free end of the clamp 29 is hooked, as at 32, for detachablefengagement with the latch end 26. The clamp 29 is provided with a cylindrical enlargement 33, provided with a horizontal threaded fopening ,34 for the threaded reception of a screw device 315. The screw 35 is provided with an operating Wing end 36, outwardly of the clamp 29, while the inner free .end Iof the screw is 'providedfwith a swivel-1aed cushioned clamping :end for engagement with the side of the 'leg 6 loperative position 'It obviously becomes necessary, since the 'carriage is adapted to traverse the standard Vi8, that means be provided to Lretain the lcarriage and its associated leg -B in vertical elevation. To provide for this contingency, a pawl 3 8 lis pivotally supported at 39 in a recess 41B `of lthe extension `2 2 for horizontal swinging movement toward and Vfrom the ratchet teeth :lil of jthe standard. A U-shaped spring 41| has `its free ends .anchored in openings formed Yin the body of :the extension 122 and bears against the pawl 38 for normally urging the same constantly toward the standard. A iinger release lip 42 is formed on the pawl for convenience in disengagement of the pawl when it is desired to lower the .carriage I2 .on the Standard.

In the use of the elevator, the carriage-is moved to its 'lowermost position on the standard, in which position, the rest IB can be engaged beneath the lower end of the leg B. The clamp 29 having rst been swung -to open position, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, is now swung inwardly until its end engages the spring pressed latch 25. The screw 3 5 is then adjusted until its cushion end firmly clamps the leg 6 against the flanges I9 and ribs 20 and 2l, at which time the leg 6 is securely held against movement with respect to the carriage, The operator then manually lifts the corner of the bed to the required height, carrying with itr the carriage, which slides upon the standard 8, During the vertical adjustment, the Apawl 38 rides over the teeth IB and automatically engages a selected tooth for preventing a downward movement of the carriage. The operater then proceeds to adjust the height of the remaining corners of the bed. When it is desired to return the bed to its normal position, the pawl is disengaged, permittingy the weight of the bed to carry the carriage downwardly to a position Where the leg 6 rests upon the floor. The screw may then be released and the clamp 29 disengaged by releas ing the latch 25, at which time the elevator may be removed. With the elevators on all four legs 6, the bed can be angularly arranged, by merely lifting one end higher than the other, providing for a proper positioning of a patient as may be desired. After the device is clamped upon the legs 6, it only becomes necessary tol lift the ends of the bed to the desired height. causing the carriage to slide upward on the standard 8, where it is held against slipping by the pawl 25.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a very desirable and eicient means has been provided supporting a bedin elevated position, as is necessary in the handling of sick persons. The device is extremely simple and easy to attach and will maintain the bed in elevated or inclined position indenitely, yet permitting the bed to be shifted around, since the elevators are rigid with the legs 6 through the medium .of the clamps 29. The dev-ice readily converts Va fconventional Abed into a hospital bed by the addition of the elevators and at a fraction of the cost of the conventional hospital bed. The elevators are preferably cast from a suitably strong metal, nished in ornamental fashion and are made in right and left hand models in order to position the clamp 29 ,andits'clamping screw 35 inwardly so as to avoid any undesirable projections likely to catch upon an attendants clothing.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not `limited to the precise arrangement shown, rbut that it includes within its purview., whatever changes fairly come within either the terms for the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described 4my invention, what I claim 1. A bed elevator for use upon the legs of a .bed comprising a rigid standard having ratchet teeth formed on one side, a carriage'adapted to traverseV the standard, guide means `on the carriage whereby the carriage is caused to ktraverse the standard against lateral movement, ka pawl pivotally supported on the carriage :and .adapted to engage the teeth of the standard, spring means for urging f Athe pawl in engagement with the teeth, a clamp pivotally supported on the carriage for horizontal swinging movement, Alatch means -ior holding the clamp against movement, said carriage provided with a rest for the bottom `of the legs, said clamp adapted to rigidly retain the leg upon the rest and against the carriage and adjustable means carried by the clamp for engagement with the leg of the bed.

2, A bed elevator of the character described for detachable connection with the legs of a bed comprising a non-circular rigid standard having teeth formed on one side for the major portion of its length, an anti-'friction caster carried by the lower end of the standard, an elongated generally L-shaped carriage adapted to traverse the standard, guides formed upon Athe carriage at top and bottom for slidable engagement with the standard, a rest formed upon the carriage at its lower end for the support of a bed leg', 'an arcuate clamp pivotally supported on the 'carriage intermediate the top and bottom for swinging in a horizontal plane, said'clamp adapted to embrace the said leg, a latch pivotally supported on the carriage for detachable engagement with the clamp, a spring to urge the latch to latching position, a screw device carried by the clamp for engagement with the side of the leg in clamping position, a resilient bumper carried by the contacting end of the screw, a pawl pivotally supported from the carriage for engagement with the teeth of the standard and a spring for urging the pawl to operative position.

. 3. A bed elevator of the character described for detachable Yconnection to bed legs comprising an elongated standard square in cross-section and provided with ratchet teeth upon one side for the full Width of the side, an antif'rietion roller carried by the lower end of the standard, a stop device carried at the upper end of the standard, a bed leg carriage for detachable and supporting connection to the leg of a bed, said carriage provided with aligned and square openings for slidable engagement over the standard, said carriage comprising a pair of integral side walls arranged at an angle of ninety degrees with each other,y

reinforcing anges formed on the upper and lowei ends of the walls, the flanges of the lower end being extended inwardly to provide a rest for supporting the end of the bed leg, ribs formed on the inner side of one wall for the vertical alignment of the bed leg, said walls jointly forming an angular socket for the reception of the bed leg,

a pair of spaced ears formed on one wall, an arcuate clamp pivotally supported between the ears for swinging in a horizontal plane, said clamp arranged equidistantly rspaced from the upper and lower ends of the carriage, the clamp having' a hooked end, a clamping screw threaded through the clamp in a horizontal manner and provided with a cushion bumper on its inner end, a hooked bifurcated extension formed on the carriage, a

ment of the carriage.

FRANK G. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,450 Archer Dec. 14, 1897 1,265,257 Schellinger May 7, 1918 1,336,480 Nelson Apr. 13,192() 

